This map of the contiguous United States uses a seven-color scheme to display a rurality index score for counties. The measure of rurality is intended to represent degree of isolation from and inability to participate in the programs of the larger society. It is intended to reflect both physical isolation and the isolation that comes from a lack of ease of operating within the formal structures of governmental and private organization as well as a shortage of the economic resources needed to participate. The rurality index is made up of the following 11 equally weighted elements: access to a metropolitan center via interstate highway, an education ratio (ratio of college graduates to people with less than 9 years formal education), percent of those employed in retail trade, percent of those employed in professional and related services, percent of those employed in public service or administration, median family income, number of newspapers published in the county, population change from 1980 to 1990, designation as persistent poverty county, designation as a retirement destination, and population density per square mile. (RAH)